Which smartwatch is the best for cycling? Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or just starting out, you likely understand the value of a smartwatch for your cycling adventures. While a bike computer can serve the purpose, smartwatches offer additional advantages such as built-in GPS and advanced features.
If you’re considering a smartwatch for cycling, we’ve conducted thorough research to compile a list of the top options available. This guide aims to assist you in choosing the best smartwatch for your cycling needs.
Editor’s choice
POLAR M430
The fitness tracker is compatible with popular third-party apps like Strava.
Best Smartwatch for Cycling Reviews
1. SUUNTO 9 Peak
The SUUNTO 9 Peak is a flagship smartwatch featuring Sapphire Glass and grade 5 Titanium bezels. With its 100-meter water resistance, it is perfect for water activities.
Boasting an award-winning Nordic design, the watch fits comfortably on every wrist. Its thin and lightweight construction enhances the overall wearing experience.
The SUUNTO 9 Peak offers exclusive features tailored for outdoor sports. When it comes to cycling or mountain biking, it includes Accent acclimation, which allows cyclists to gauge their body’s adaptiveness to weather and altitude.
Additionally, the watch can track average bike speed, Bike POD, Bike Lap, Interval guidance, Bike power meter support, and more. With over 80+ sports modes, the SUUNTO 9 Peak can measure your performance in any activity.
The SUUNTO 9 Peak includes essential features such as training recovery, training load, real-time heart rate monitoring, interval training, calorie burn tracking, and more. It also comes with onboard GPS for improved navigation, eliminating the need for additional GPS devices.
With seven days of battery backup for 24/7 tracking and up to 25 hours in GPS mode, the SUUNTO 9 Peak offers reliable battery life. Additionally, it includes ABC sensors to measure weather conditions, direction, and altitudes.
Pros:
- Thin and lightweight design
- Durable construction
- Wide range of sports modes
- Exclusive running features
- 100-meter water resistance
Cons:
- Expensive
- No music storage
2. POLAR M430
The Polar M430 goes beyond being just a smartwatch, offering a larger display that ensures easy readability of your activity stats, even under direct sunlight, thanks to its high-resolution 128 x 128 px screen.
It covers all the essential features, including heart rate tracking, smart calories, training load, and sleep tracking. Moreover, it provides premium features like a running index, various running programs, an activity guide, and more, specifically designed for running and cycling.
The fitness tracker is compatible with popular third-party apps like Strava, Training Peaks, and MyFitnessPal, allowing you to comprehensively track your cycling and mountain biking activities.
The new Polar Flow app empowers you to plan your training, from single workouts to full-season plans. The M430 provides feedback on your daily, weekly, and monthly activities, helping you quickly improve your performance. Additionally, you receive feedback after each training session to keep you motivated.
With onboard GPS, the M430 enables route planning and easy map viewing on its large screen. The watch boasts a powerful battery life, lasting up to 20 days in regular use and up to 8 hours in GPS mode.
Pros:
- Large display for easy readability
- Support for third-party apps
- Built-in GPS
- Long battery life
- Data sharing via the Polar Flow app
Cons:
- Sleep tracking performance could be improved
- Monochrome display
3. Apple Watch Series 7
For those who prefer Apple Watches, the Apple Watch Series 7 is a top choice. Packed with numerous features for outdoor sports and activities, this watch offers a great experience.
Compared to its predecessor, the Apple Watch Series 7 features a larger 1.7″ display, making it easier to view your performance metrics at a glance.
Similar to other models, the Apple Watch Series 7 includes a cycling mode specifically tailored for tracking metrics relevant to your Cycling activities. It can monitor your speed, pace, altitude, distance, and other physical metrics. The accuracy of the Apple Watch Series 7 is unparalleled, and it can automatically track your cycling and other outdoor sports. The iOS app provides a detailed analysis of your physical activities and training sessions.
The Apple Watch Series 7 also comes equipped with an improved GPS, allowing you to set your desired distance before starting your Cycling session. This feature aids in navigation and routing without the need for smartphone connectivity, eliminating the need to carry your smartphone while cycling.
One of the core fitness features of the Apple Watch Series 7 is the advanced SpO2 sensor, which measures your blood oxygen saturation level, providing insights into your overall wellness. Additionally, the onboard ECG app allows you to measure atrial fibrillation indications right from your wrist.
While the battery performance of the Apple Watch Series 7 is similar to its predecessor, providing up to 18 hours of battery life in smartwatch mode, it does offer fast charging support. With fast charging, the watch can be charged from 0% to 100% in just 2.5 hours.
However, it’s worth noting that the Apple Watch Series 7 may not be as durable as Garmin watches when it comes to more strenuous outdoor activities or intense training.
Pros:
- Larger display
- QWERTY keyboard
- Fast charging
- Brighter display
- Improved ECG app
- Accurate health tracking
Cons:
- Battery life could be improved
- Only two new watch faces
4. Garmin Forerunner 945
The Garmin Forerunner 945 is a premium smartwatch that offers an extensive range of outdoor features and advanced sports profiles.
Tailored specifically for pro mountain bikers, this smartwatch comes with built-in MTB and cycling modes, allowing you to track your rides with greater detail. Compared to its predecessor, the Forerunner 945 boasts additional features such as blood oxygen level monitoring and advanced GPS technology.
Additionally, the watch includes NFC payments, enabling convenient contactless transactions while you’re on the move. Battery life performance has also been improved, with the Forerunner 945 offering up to two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode and 36 hours in GPS mode.
Recognizing that Cycling is an aerobic activity that burns calories, the Forerunner 945 incorporates aerobic performance tracking. It monitors your VO2 max, average heart rate, calories burned, distance covered, speed, pace, and provides insightful data during outdoor activities.
Thanks to its Multi-GNSS support, the watch excels in tracking even in challenging environments, accompanied by full-color mapping. For mountain bikers, the Forerunner 945 also includes round-trip routing, helping you find the best routes that lead you back to your starting point.
Lastly, this smartwatch features a barometer and altimeter to measure environmental conditions and provide weather information. With its durable design, the Forerunner 945 is an ideal companion for outdoor use.
Pros:
- Pulse oximetry
- Enhanced outdoor features
- Music syncing capability
- Excellent battery life
- Accurate GPS
- Compatible with Strava and Cyclemeter
Cons:
- Expensive
- Lacks a temperature sensor
5. Polar Vantage V2
Polar smartwatches provide a compelling alternative to Garmin watches, and the new Polar Vantage V2 offers comprehensive insights into your outdoor activities. With over 130 sports modes, you can track a wide range of training and outdoor activities.
The Vantage V2 features a sleek and lightweight design while remaining durable. The aerospace aluminum alloy bezel and fiber-reinforced polymer glass contribute to its robustness. It is also water-resistant up to 100 meters, making it suitable for swimming and bathing.
Equipped with GPS and multiple satellite systems including GLONASS, GALILEO, and QZSS, the Vantage V2 offers accurate and rapid routing. You can sync your routes for real-time and turn-by-turn guidance. The new elevation feature allows cyclists to measure slope angles and elevations of their routes.
The watch includes Training Load Pro, which assesses physical strength, strain, tolerance, and the ability to handle more workouts, making it ideal for professional trainers. Additional features include Recovery Pro, Energy Source, real-time heart rate monitoring, and advanced sleep tracking.
With the Vantage V2, you can set goals to improve your performance day by day. The performance tests enable you to track your cycling, running, or any activity and personalize your heart rate, speed, and power zones.
The Vantage V2 offers a 346mAh battery that lasts for 7 days in smartwatch mode and 40 hours in GPS mode, ensuring extended activity tracking. It also features an ABC sensor to measure weather conditions 24/7.
Pros:
- Sleek and lightweight design
- Durable construction
- Wide range of sports modes
- Advanced running and cycling features
- Excellent Polar Flow app
Cons:
- No built-in music storage
- Relatively expensive
Final Word
In conclusion, we have provided a quick overview of our top picks for this year in the realm of smartwatches and fitness trackers. With the wide variety of options available, we hope this article has given you a good understanding of the choices and assisted you in finding the perfect smartwatch for your cycling endeavors. Happy biking!
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